Koldov Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Ok, so amongst all the other million and one things I've got to keep on top of... today's mission should I choose to accept it (like I've got a choice), is how the heck I'm going to live stream some eggs hatching in the not too distant future... The Headteacher has apparently seen that other schools can even do this on their website (thanks guys)! So for all those clever IT techs that have set this up, how did you do it? Bear in mind there's no money for equipment, we don't have any streaming video accounts, our website is third party hosted (and I doubt we have paid for whatever function this needs)... and I've never done this before.
TheHyperTechie Posted February 26 Posted February 26 (edited) Think this has been mentioned before - https://www.yawcam.com/ See old thread - here Edited February 26 by HyperTech
NegativeKillDeath Posted February 26 Posted February 26 We do this. 2 years now. We use a spare CCTV camera, a spare windows device that has internet connectivity, OBS software and the schools YouTube channel as the live stream broadcast site. There are dozens and dozens of online tutorials on how to set up OBS to stream to YouTube. We use the RTP output of the camera as a source for OBS, this means the PC running the OBS can be tucked away in our office so it doesn't get interfered with. You can add other elements in OBS, we have school logo and the time. The eggs and the incubator are kept in the science office, They use one of their flask arms to hold the camera and its just plugged into a spare network port. If the eggs are moved for any reason they put a note in front of the camera explaining whats happening. The first year we did it we would get time outs a couple of times a day, second year its been much more stable. 3
Rob_D Posted February 26 Posted February 26 (edited) IMO, the simplest way, espeically if you don't mind/want it to be public, would be; webcam on a stick connected to a laptop and then use/make a school youtube account and "go live". I don't think you need to do anything special apart from varifying your account to be able to stream on YT. Just now, NegativeKillDeath said: There are dozens and dozens of online tutorials on how to set up OBS to stream to YouTube. If you're just streaming a single camera view would you even need OBS? Edited February 26 by Rob_D
NegativeKillDeath Posted February 26 Posted February 26 2 minutes ago, Rob_D said: IMO, the simplest way, espeically if you don't mind/want it to be public, would be; webcam on a stick connected to a laptop and then use/make a school youtube account and "go live". I don't think you need to do anything special apart from varifying your account to be able to stream on YT. If you're just streaming a single camera view would you even need OBS? We don't want the streaming PC in the room with the eggs as they often allow the kids in to the room to look at the eggs/chicks the old fashioned biological way. So we needed software that can take a remote source and then stream it. 1
paulellam Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Used camera and stremed via VLC player via a weblink to classes
Koldov Posted February 26 Author Posted February 26 (edited) This... 10 minutes ago, NegativeKillDeath said: We don't want the streaming PC in the room with the eggs as they often allow the kids in to the room to look at the eggs/chicks the old fashioned biological way. So we needed software that can take a remote source and then stream it. Thing is, the incubator is apparently going to be in a place where it could easily be interfered with apparently so the children can view them during the day (don't ask me why) and therefore so would the laptop and camera.... I can just imagine one of the students taking the opportunity to sneak out of class or on a break taking the opportunity to live stream themselves doing something ridiculous... I mean I get that some schools have spare cctv cameras, spare windows devices, school YouTube accounts, a science office, etc. Edited February 26 by Koldov
Rob_D Posted February 26 Posted February 26 6 minutes ago, Koldov said: Thing is, the incubator is apparently going to be in a place where it could easily be interfered with apparently so the children can view them during the day (don't ask me why) and therefore so would the laptop and camera.... I can just imagine one of the students taking the opportunity to sneak out of class or on a break taking the opportunity to live stream themselves doing something ridiculous... And immagine if that student didn't have photo concent...? If there's a chance of the students being streamed, then it should probably go thorugh the DPO/Safegaurding lead first (they might be able to either say no, or no student access to the room while streaming for you). 3
Koldov Posted February 26 Author Posted February 26 Trouble is, as a very small school they're always asking for things with no idea how involved it really is... I know they haven't got a clue and they don't see that other schools may have greater resources, they just think that these things are easy and while I admit, just chuck a webcam on a stick and make a YouTube channel sounds easy (how hard can it be, right?!) there's a bit more involved to it than that...
Davit2005 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Whatever you do make sure it is secure. Isolate the camera on it's own vlan or subinterface on the firewall. Cameras can be notorious for been hacked.
Cat_Jam148 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 (edited) This is something we've done for years. We stream via a school youtube account, using a webcam pointed down into the cage to avoid any children or staff appearing on camera. The webcam is securely mounted so that if it is knocked or moved it doesn't shift. Our staff are excellent at policing the whole thing, children are taken in small groups to view the cage and handle the chicks - only staying on the side that isn't facing the camera. We've evolved it over the years and even done multi cam setups. See rubbish thumbnail image below for an idea. Edited February 26 by Cat_Jam148 2
Davit2005 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 (edited) 1 hour ago, Rob_D said: IMO, the simplest way, espeically if you don't mind/want it to be public, would be; webcam on a stick connected to a laptop and then use/make a school youtube account and "go live". I don't think you need to do anything special apart from varifying your account to be able to stream on YT. If you're just streaming a single camera view would you even need OBS? Fairly easy to live stream from OBS to YouTube plus as others have said you can have other elements. Plus you can install OBS on something like linux. Using YouTube means you do not have to open inbound ports either direct to a IP camera which I'd absolutely not do. Webcam, OBS to YouTube defo a way to go. Edited February 26 by Davit2005
Dos_Box Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Yeas ago we had a birdbox cam. It was setup using a cheap birdbox camera kit connected to an analogue AV to IP convertor, which could then send images + a live stream to the website via the inbuilt interface. We got blue tits in there a few days after setting up. This worked great, right up until a woodpecker pecked it's way in and ate all the chicks, all while being streamed live! 2
Koldov Posted February 26 Author Posted February 26 Is a YouTube branded school account through Google Workspace possible anymore, I'm getting conflicting advice in my internet searches (AI, I'm looking at you!)...
KSCSIT Posted February 26 Posted February 26 We've done this a few times - Used VMix (I prefer it to OBS) to broadcast to YouTube. Just had a PC in the room with two webcams on (Multiple angles!) - Sound only on outside of school hours & the webcams didn't face any student areas. Only downside of YouTube Live is that it won't keep a recording of the event - You'll need to do a separate save to local storage if you want to keep highlights.
Sonic007 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Another vote for the free OBS Studio software. Link that with a youtube live feed and it works.
itskdog Posted February 27 Posted February 27 On 26/02/2026 at 12:16, Koldov said: Is a YouTube branded school account through Google Workspace possible anymore, I'm getting conflicting advice in my internet searches (AI, I'm looking at you!)... Yes - as long as it's marked as an over-18 account in the OU. Under 18s, even with parental consent, cannot create channels.
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